Gradual vibration speaker

This application is a national phase application of PCT Application No. PCT/KR2023/004563, filed on Apr. 5, 2023, which claims the benefit and priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0043166, filed on Apr. 7, 2022. The entire disclosures of the applications identified in this paragraph are incorporated herein by references.

The present invention relates to a point vibration speaker, and more particularly, to a point vibration speaker which is minimized in volume and enables a user to select sound quality.

A speaker is referred as a megaphone or a loudspeaker. In a speaker according to the related art, a voice coil vertically vibrates with an electromagnetic force generated by an interaction between a magnetic force of a magnetic circuit and a magnetic field of the voice coil. The voice coil is coupled to a vibration plate, and thus, excites the vibration plate. The vibration plate propagates sound energy with a vibration through peripheral air.

In the speaker of the related art, it may be unable to generate a sound wave in air by vibrating only the voice coil, and due to this, it may be unable to generate a sound. Therefore, the vibration plate is necessary for propagating sound energy. However, when the speaker is operating, a wavelength propagated forward from the vibration plate has a phase opposite to a phase of a wavelength propagated backward from the vibration plate, and thus, energy is offset to be dissipated. To solve such a problem, in the speaker of the related art, the speaker is installed in a case having a box shape and is thus commercialized. As a result, according to the related art, a size (volume) of a speaker should be large, causing inconvenience in use.

An embodiment of the present invention is for providing a point vibration speaker which may be minimized in volume to enhance the convenience of use and may enable a selection of desired sound quality.

To accomplish the above-described objects, a point vibration speaker according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic circuit module forming a magnetic gap, a voice coil unit disposed in the magnetic gap to vibrate along a vibration axis, and an excitation module connected to the voice coil unit, the excitation module including a shaft extending along the vibration axis.

Moreover, the excitation module further includes a supporter connected to the shaft and the voice coil unit, and the supporter includes a voice coil coupler coupled to the voice coil unit, a shaft coupler coupled to the shaft, and an extension portion connected to the voice coil coupler and the shaft coupler.

Moreover, the extension portion progressively converges toward the shaft coupler from the voice coil coupler.

Moreover, the extension portion includes a through hole.

Moreover, the point vibration speaker further includes a frame supporting the magnetic circuit module and an elastic member connected to the frame and the voice coil unit.

Moreover, the elastic member is a plate spring.

Moreover, the shaft and the supporter are formed as one body.

Moreover, the magnetic circuit module includes a yoke, a magnet disposed on the yoke, and a pole piece disposed on the magnet.

Moreover, the yoke includes a floor portion and a sidewall portion extending in the vibration axis from the floor portion, and the magnet and the pole piece are disposed inward from the sidewall portion.

Moreover, the yoke includes a floor portion and a sidewall portion extending in the vibration axis from the floor portion, and the magnet and the pole piece are disposed outward from the sidewall portion.

Moreover, the shaft contacts a vibration object to excite the vibration object.

According to the present invention, because a vibration plate is removed, a volume (size) of a speaker may be minimized.

Moreover, a sound (sound quality) may be controlled based on a characteristic of a vibration object contacting a shaft and a contact position of the vibration object.

Moreover, a user may select sound quality (sound).

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In the below description, elements and functions that are irrelevant to the essentials of the invention and have been known to those skilled in the art may be omitted. Meanings of the terms described herein should be understood as follows.

Advantages and features of the invention, and implementation methods thereof will be clarified through following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this invention will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the invention is only defined by scopes of claims.

A shape, a size, a ratio, an angle, and a number disclosed in the drawings for describing embodiments of the invention are merely an example, and thus, the invention is not limited to the illustrated details. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, when the detailed description of the relevant known technology is determined to unnecessarily obscure the important point of the invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

In a case where ‘comprise’, ‘have’, and ‘include’ described herein are used, another part may be added unless ‘only˜’ is used. The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless referred to the contrary.

In construing an element, the element is construed as including an error range although there is no explicit description.

In describing a position relationship, for example, when a position relation between two parts is described as ‘on˜’, ‘over˜’, ‘under˜’, and ‘next˜’, one or more other parts may be disposed between the two parts unless ‘just’ or ‘direct’ is used.

In describing a time relationship, for example, when the temporal order is described as ‘after˜’, ‘subsequent˜’, ‘next˜’, and ‘before˜’, a case which is not continuous may be included unless ‘just’ or ‘direct’ is used.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

An “X-axis direction”, a “Y-axis direction”, and a “Z-axis direction” should not be construed as only a geometric relationship where a relationship therebetween is vertical, and may denote having a broader directionality within a scope where elements of the present disclosure operate functionally.

The term “at least one” should be understood as including any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, the meaning of “at least one of a first item, a second item, and a third item” denotes the combination of all items proposed from two or more of the first item, the second item, and the third item as well as the first item, the second item, or the third item.

Features of various embodiments of the invention may be partially or overall coupled to or combined with each other, and may be variously inter-operated with each other and driven technically as those skilled in the art can sufficiently understand. The embodiments of the invention may be carried out independently from each other, or may be carried out together in co-dependent relationship.

Hereinafter, a point vibration speakeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

is a plan view schematically illustrating a point vibration speakeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ in.is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ in.

Referring to, the point vibration speakeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed in a vibration object and is for generating a sound wave through the vibration object, without a vibration plate for generating a sound wave. The point vibration speakeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic circuit module, a voice coil unit, and an excitation module.

The magnetic circuit moduleforms a magnetic gap to allow a magnetic field to concentrate on the magnetic gap. The voice coil unitis disposed in the magnetic gap and vibrates in a vibration axis X. The excitation moduleis connected to the voice coil unit. The excitation moduleis vibrated by the voice coil unitto excite a vibration object (a table in). A sound wave (sound) may be generated by a vibration of the vibration object. The excitation moduleincludes a shaft. The shaftis disposed in the vibration axis X and extends in the vibration axis X. A center axis of the shaftmay be the same as the vibration axis X. Therefore, vibration distortion is prevented, and thus, sound performance is improved. The shaftmay be disposed to contact the vibration object, on the vibration object (the table in). The shaftmay excite the vibration object with the vibration. The voice coil unitmay include a bobbin and a voice coil. The voice coil is wound around the bobbin. The voice coil may vibrate through an electromagnetic interaction with the magnetic circuit module, based on a current applied to the voice coil.

The excitation modulemay further include a supporter. The supporteris connected to the shaftand the voice coil unit. The supportermay allow a vibration of the voice coil unitto converge to and concentrate on the shaft. Accordingly, the shaftis disposed at a center of the supporterin a plane. The shaftcontacts a certain position of the vibration object to excite the vibration object. In this case, the shaftmay point-contact the vibration object.

In an embodiment, the supportermay include a voice coil coupler, a shaft coupler, and an extension portion. The voice coil coupleris coupled to the voice coil unit. The shaft coupleris coupled to the shaft. The extension portionis connected to the voice coil couplerand the shaft coupler. The supporterconverges toward the vibration shaft X in a direction from the voice coil couplerto the shaft coupler. That is, the supportermay have a slope portion. Accordingly, a vibration by the voice coil unitmay converge to and concentrate on the shaft.

The voice coil couplermay be coupled to the voice coil unitby an adhesive material. The shaftmay be at least partially inserted into the shaft couplerand may be forcibly fitted to the shaft coupler. The shaftmay be coupled to the shaft couplerby simultaneously applying a plurality of methods. The extension portionprogressively converges toward the shaft couplerfrom the voice coil coupler. The extension portionallows a vibration to converge to the shaft. Therefore, a vibration plate for generating a sound wave is not needed. The vibration plate should enlarge as sound performance is enhanced, but the present invention does not need the vibration plate and thus is good in miniaturization. Furthermore, the extension portiondoes not generate a sound wave but transfers a vibration to the shaft, and thus, may include a plurality of through holes H. Accordingly, an air resistance may decrease when the extension portionis vibrating, and thus, sound performance may increase. Also, a weight of the speakermay decrease. The plurality of through holes H may be disposed to be symmetric with respect to the vibration axis X in a plane. This is associated with the prevention of sound distortion.

Furthermore, the voice coil couplerextends to form a closed loop in a plane. The shaft coupleris disposed inward from the voice coil couplerin a plane. Therefore, a vibration of the voice coil unitconfiguring a certain closed loop may converge to the shaft. At least a portion of the voice coil couplermay extend downward along the vibration axis X at an outer side of the voice coil unit. Accordingly, the voice coil couplermay support at least a portion of an outer circumference surface of the voice coil unitand may thus be stably fixed.

The shaftmay include a convergence partand a body part. The body partis connected to the supporter. The shaftmay extend in a circumference direction with respect to the vibration axis X. The convergence partconverges toward the vibration axis X in a direction from a lower end of the shaftto an upper end of the shaft. That is, the convergence partgets closer to the vibration axis X. Therefore, the convergence partmay apply a point contact and a point vibration to the vibration object (the table in). In an embodiment, the convergence partmay include a curved surface which is convex in a direction distancing from the supporter. Accordingly, a vibration of the voice coil unitis changed to a point vibration at an endmost portion of the convergence part.

The point vibration speakeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a frameand an elastic member. The framemay at least support the magnetic circuit module. The elastic membermay be connected to the frameand the voice coil unit. The elastic membersupports a vibration of the voice coil unit. The elastic membermay be a plate spring. The elastic membermay be a metal material. The elastic membermay be disposed in the same plane.

The elastic membermay include a first coupler, a second coupler, and a supporting part. The first coupler is coupled to the voice coil unit. The second couplermay be coupled to the frameor the magnetic circuit module. The first couplerand the second couplermay be bonded to each other by an adhesive material. The supporting partis connected to the first couplerand the second coupler. The supporting partis disposed in plurality, and the plurality of supporting partsare spaced apart from one another. An uppermost surface of each of the first coupler, the second coupler, and the supporting partmay be disposed in the same plane. Also, a lowermost surface of each of the first coupler, the second coupler, and the supporting partmay be disposed in the same plane. That is, the elastic membermay have the same thickness in all directions toward an outer side thereof from an inner side thereof.

are diagrams schematically illustrating another embodiment of the excitation moduleillustrated in.

Referring to, the shaftand the supportermay be manufactured as one body and may be formed as one body. That is, the shaftand the supportermay not include coupling surfaces which are physically separated from each other. To this end, the shaftand the supportermay be manufactured by injection.

In this case, the shaftis disposed at an uppermost end of the supporter. The shaftincludes a body partand a convergence part. The body partis connected to the supporter. The shaft couplermay be defined between the body partand the supporter. The convergence partconverges to be closer to the vibration axis X in a direction from the supporterto the body part. In an embodiment, the convergence partmay include an outer curved surface which is convex upward from the supporter. Also, the shaftmay include an inner curved surface which has a shape corresponding to the outer curved surface of the convergence part. The inner curved surface may be disposed under the outer curved surface.

is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the point vibration speakerillustrated in.

Referring to, the point vibration speakeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention may configure a closed loop which extends along a certain trajectory with respect to the vibration axis X which is a center axis. In detail, an edge of the supporter, the elastic member, the magnetic circuit module, and an inner circumference surface of the framemay configure a closed loop which is a trajectory having a long axis and a short axis. Therefore, it is possible to dispose on a long and narrow surface, and a strong driving force may be implemented. In another embodiment, the point vibration speakerof the present invention may extend in a circumference direction with respect to the vibration axis X. In detail, the edge of the supporter, the elastic member, the magnetic circuit module, and the inner circumference surface of the framemay extend in a circular shape.

The magnetic circuit moduleincludes a yoke, a magnet, and a pole piece. The magnetis disposed on the yoke. The pole pieceis disposed on the magnet. The yokeincludes a floor portionand a sidewall portion. The sidewall portionextends in the vibration axis X from the floor portion. A magnetic gap is formed between the sidewall portionand the pole pieceand between the sidewalland the magnet. In an embodiment, the magnetand the pole piecemay be disposed inward from the sidewall portion. That is, the sidewall portionmay be disposed to surround the magnetand the pole piece.

is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the magnetic circuit moduleillustrated in.

Referring to, the yokeincludes a floor portionand a sidewall portionwhich extends from the floor portionin parallel with the vibration axis X. In this case, the sidewall portionis disposed at a center of the floor portion. That is, an edge of the floor portionmay be disposed to surround an outer circumference surface of the sidewall portion. In this case, the sidewall portionis disposed inward from the magnetand the pole piece.

are diagrams illustrating a use example of the point vibration speakerillustrated in. The point vibration speakeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention may be disposed to contact a vibration object (a table, a desk, a television (TV) cover, etc.). In this case, the shaftcontacts and excites the vibration object to generate a sound. A sound (sound quality) may vary based on a material and a thickness of the vibration object. Accordingly, a user may change a contact position of the vibration object to select (set) desired sound quality. That is, there is an effect where sound quality is not defined but is capable of being selected by a consumer (a user).